Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-08-31
WEDNESDAY. AUGUST 81. 1887.
Foraker for President.

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1t is said that many of the members
OF the Grand Army OF the Republic
Republican members, we suppose
were so much pleased with Governor
FoRAKER's recent battle-flag declara-
ton and with his speech in Wheeling
last week that they are in favor Of his
nomination for President OF the
United States. A prominent West
Virginia Democrat who was in Wheel
ing last week and heard the speeches of
WILSON and FORAKER tells the Wash
ington correspondent of the Alexan-
dria Go=ctte that the bloody shirt ut
terances of the latter occasioned the
widest enthusiasm amongst the mem
bers of the Grand Army of the Re-
public and have given him strong
boom among that element Of the Re-
publican party, and those who sympa-
thize with it, for the Republican presi-
dental nomination.
Why not ? Let the contest be be-
tween CLEVELAND and FORAKER
CLEVELAND representing restored and
indissoluble union of indestructible
States and FORAKER representing a
union in which the people of more than
one third of the States are to be kept
in subsection to the people of the other
two thirds.
If FORAKER speaks for tine northern
people, then the war between the States
failed to accomplish its object. That
war was begun in order to preserve a
union consisting of co-equal States-a
union III which all the States were
supposed to have equal rights
q union in which Virginia and Massa-
chusetts were to continue to stand as
peers. We say il was a union of that
kind which the war was prosecuted to
preserve. But according to FORAKER
and his followers the sun of that union
went down in blood, and the union
which has succeeded it is a union of
States not coequal--a union in which
all the States have not equal rights-a
union in which Virginia and Massachu-
sets do not stand as peers. If Fora
KER and his followers be right. the Con-
stitution needs several new articles of
amendment.
What fortunate thing for Vir-
gipia-nay, for the whole country
that grant and not FORAKER was Pre-
sident Of the United States in recon
sfruction times. FORAKER would have
rolled as a sweet morsel under his
tongue that section of the Virginia
State Constitution which, as it came
from the hands OF the ignorant negroes
and unprincipled carpet baggers and
fcallawags who framed it, was intended
TO disfrancbise all the best men in the
Commonwealth.
Now, if the northern people are OF
Tie same opinion as Governor Fora
KEB, the fact ought to be known to all
the world. II they really desire the
southern people to be treated as crimi-
mails, and to acknowledge that they
ought to have one single right which
ahe people OF the southern States are
not entitled to, this fact ought to be
known. We in this section have sup
posed that, in BEN. HILL's language,
we have "come back to our fathers
house." and have expected TO be treated
ms brethren. FoRAKEB's theory would
seem to be that we came back " like
galley slaves scourged to their dun
geop."
What say the businessmen of the
North? What say the men of pro-
perry? What say the landowners !?
What says the piety OF the North ? Is
the war over Twenty-Five years have
elapsed since the last battle was fought
in the war between the States, and yet
FORAKER would have the bitter preju-
dices of that war renewed year after
year.
Suppose, then, CLEVELAND and FORA
Kra be put up as candidates for the
presidency, and the voters OF the
whole country be asked to decide
as between them on the grounds herein
before stated. There must be many
thousands Of Republicans in the North
who would vote for the candidate that
representedevery section OF the Union
every state. We cannot believe-we
nj. not willing to believe-that Fora
KIn represents the best elements Of the
Republican party in the northern
States.